CAPTAIN SEDDON.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1888, 24 October 1913, Page 7

CAPTAIN SEDDON.

HIS SOJOURN IN ENGLAND. QUESTIONS ANSWERED. VARIOUS "ABSENCES " AND COST TO THE COUNTRY. There irora some warm wards iii ths House of Representatives last week about a return (asked for by Mr. 11. Scott) M.P.), giving particulars of the reeoftt resignation of Captain R. J. S-. Seddon, and of the special training ' which ho underwent in England. Yes-, terday, however, when the return was presented to tho House by tho Hon, Jas. Allen,, there was an entire abspneo of comment. Somewhat unexpectedly, the return was received in complete silence. The return asked for information on six heads :— No Agreement to Stay. (1) Date of departure and agreement mado (if any).—The date on which Captain Seddon loft New Zealand for Britain, for the purpose of undergoing training in connection with tho Dot'enco systom, was March 23,, 1911, The regulations. for the military forces of Now Zealand Were iiot signod by tlio Governor until May 5, 1911. Prior to' this date certain officers who had been sont Home for training had entered into . agreements not to resign 'their commisSsions for a definite period after their return to tho Dominion, but 110 written - agreement was entered into : by Captaiij" Seddon. (2) Date of return and duty assigned. —Captain Seddon returned to New Zealand on August 26, 1913. On May 1 ho was appointed by General Order on his return to Now Zealand to take up tlio duties of officer in charge of No. 2 Area Group, with headquarters at Pneroi. This appointment is an 'administrative appointment, and one which j.ha . Defence Department considered suitable, having regard to the merits and cap* 1 abilities of Captain Seddon. Failure to Report for Duty.' (3) Time served on return from E/lgj land. —Captain Seddon, on his return to New Zealand,-did not report himself for ! duty until August 29. He then,applied for and was-granted Icavo until,j September 12, on which date ho had! ■ been ordered to report himself to tho: : Officer Commanding tlio Auckland triefc. He did not%raceed to Auckland until further ordered to do so by to'le- , gram, arriving tboro on September 17, The actual time, therefore, that Captain Soddbn served on 'his return to Now Zealand was from September 17 to Oc- ; tobor 1, 1913. :, (4) Time off duty iii time Captain Seddon was off. duty on leave wliilo in Britain is as follows From tho first week in May, 1911, when' ho landed in Britain, till October 3. 1911, ho Was absent without leavo, ana did not report himself for duty to the* War Office until October 3, 1911. From August till September 12, 1912,: ,lio was ill. Ho was also granted leavo 1 on a medical certificate from April, i 1913, till June 30, 1913, When lid saijoai for Now Zoaland via Vancouver. Hoi did not arrive in New Zealand, until ) August 26, 1913. | Cost tit date. —€1423 3s. Id, 1 (5) Tqtal amounts paid in Britain,-* , Tho _ final accounts have not yet been' ; received from tho High Commissioner, but the total amount hitherto paid to Captaj.n Seddon from tlio timo_ ho left' New Zealand Until ho resigned is £1423' 3s. Id., made Up as follows :—Pay, £866' 13s, 40..; allowance, £391 9s. 9a. j out'' fit 'graiit, £16; passaga monoy, £140; . oversea allowance, £10 s total, £1423 3a.' : Id, • ; ! (6) Date of resignation.—Captain Sod- ' don applied to bo allowed to resign, • first of all, on September 1, 1913. As, his application was not in order, it waß 1 returned to him. His second appliea-/ tion is dated September 19, 1913, and' was gazetted on October 10, 1913.